Italian food!! Hard to mess up, right?!?! But also very hard to find mind blowing awesome tasty Italian meals!

Babbo, is Mario Batali’s restaurant in the heart of West Village. It is incredibly well known and people can’t stop raving about it. Reservations are not easy to get and you can only make reservations a month in advance. Luckily for me, I got reservations! Of course, I deserve absolutely no credit since I was not the one holding on the phone to get one. (Thanks T!)

We both indecisively get the Pasta tasting menu, an 8 course meal, with the wine pairing. It’s what people swear by and rave as a “must-have“.

It was delicious!! I don’t think I’ve ever had a pasta tasting before; unless ordering tons of pasta dishes count. 

Personally, I can not decide what I like more, Babbo or L’Artusi. I’m leaning towards the latter but Babbo definitely gives it competition. Maybe I will know for sure when I go back to L’Artusi for pictures, since I do not have a write up on them yet (did not have camera last time).

Here are the courses in order:

Nice and light to start the pasta tasting.

Black Tagliatelle with Peas and Castelmagno. Wine:“Greco di Tufo “Pietra Rosa,” Di Prisco 2005

 Pretty colorful dish, weird ingredients but works well together.

“Casunzei” with Poppy Seeds. Wine: Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Emidio Pepe 2006

 My favorite dish of the night by far. Aromas from the mushrooms are delicious as hell. THIS DISH GIVES L’ARTUSI COMPETITION!

Garganelli with “Funghi Trifolati”. Wine: Morellino di Scansano “I Perazzi,” La Mozza 2007

 The pyramids below were okay…just okay. It’s good looking, geometrically, but not crazy with the meat inside. It just didn’t taste fabulous.

Domingo’s Pyramids with “Passato di Pomodoro”. Wine: Fumin, Esprit Follet Crotta di Vigneron 2007

 BOLOGNESE! I used to taunt people who order Bolognese at Italian restaurants for being such boring bland eaters BUT I discovered a whole new level of BOLOGNESE…absolutely impressed with it. It’s  also a good indicator of a good Italian restaurant from a shitty one.

Pappardelle Bolognese. Wine:Bolgheri Rosso “Le Serre Nuove,” Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2003

Flavors were light and a good start to the next courses… 

“Frittelle d’Ananas” with Ricotta Salata. Wine:Moscato di Trani “Piani di Tufara,” Rivera 2007

 Rich, thick, and creamy chocolate with some spicy flavors!

Chocolate “al Diavolo”. Wine:“Sibilla Appenninica,” Le Caniette 1999

Tyrolean Carrot and Poppyseed Cake with Olive Oil and Orange Gelato. Wine:Moscato d’Asti “La Caudrina,” Dogliotti 2008 **AND they were kind enough to write "Happy Birthday" on the last course!

 Ice cream is immaculate! Loved the red sauce too, what a shame it is that I have no idea what this plate is at all!

This is a complimentary dessert, but I have no idea what it is because I was too excited to pay attention. Sorry!

As if THAT was not enough, they bring out a plate of almond Biscotti, Chocolate Baci, & Almond Meringue cookie. De-lish!

Babbo
110 Waverly Pl
(btwn Ave. Of Americas & MacDougal St)
New York, NY 10011
(212)777-0303